McMurtry leads Queens' third period rally over Ooks

Brent Forster - RDC

Edmonton, AB - Even though the Red Deer College Queens found themselves down by a goal with five minutes remaining in the game, they stuck to their game plan and connected twice to earn a 2 - 1 road victory. 

After a defensive and scoreless opening period, NAIT's Jordan McMillan scored shorthanded only 6 seconds into the second period to give the Ooks a 1 - 0 edge. 

Then, the Queens' Kaely McMurtry took over in the latter stages of the third period. The Bachelor of Education student struck on the power play with 4:21 left in the third period. Kaitlan Linnell and Veronika Bucifalova recorded the helpers. But McMurtry wasn't finished. With only 1:36 showing on the clock, the fifth-year forward from Port Coquitlam beat Ooks goaltender Kaitlyn Slator for her second goal of the game. Bucifalova, who generated on ice chemistry with McMurtry in the preseason, picked up her second assist of the game. Camryn Wallan added the other helper. 

NAIT Ooks Head Coach Stefanie Thomson pulled Slator with 11 seconds remaining, but NAIT couldn't even the contest. McMurtry's second goal stood up as the winner.

Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter appreciated a solid team game from the entire lineup. "I liked our execution and how we moved the puck tonight in Edmonton," says Coulter. "Everyone played well, from goaltender Karlee (Fetch) out."

Looking ahead to the Queens' first game at home, Coulter would like to see more traffic in front of the NAIT goaltender. "Saturday, we need to have more net presence," he says. 

Karlee Fetch (1)

Fetch turned aside 24-of-25 shots (0.960) for the win against her former team. The RDC Queens tested Slator 27 times. 

On Saturday, October 6, the Red Deer College Queens (1 - 0) will face-off against the NAIT Ooks (0 - 1) at 7:00 p.m. in their home opening game at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.